Every single wellness-check request will be accepted and will take place, and law enforcement will continue in the county, especially now that all bars and restaurants have been shuttered by order from Gov. Jim Justice.
“I think everyone expected the governor to follow what the surrounding states have done,” Helms said Tuesday on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY). “Our deputies will continue to do what they do every day. That’s not going to change.
“If there are people who have moved away and they’re worried about their parents or grandparents, they can give us a call, and we’ll go check on them. That’s a part of our job,” the chief deputy said. “We’ll be where we need to be because that’s what the taxpayers pay for, and our department takes that very seriously.”
Common Sense
Several measures have been implemented by City of Wheeling officials involving the municipality’s first-responder agencies, and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office has suspended all public services pertaining to fingerprinting and concealed carry permits, but law enforcement continues throughout the city and county.
Helms said the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office has not yet suspended similar services at their office and that his deputies will continue patrolling as always.
“For us, at this point, it’s business as usual except for the abundance of caution that is being used right now,” Helms said. “Everyone is trying to keep their distance, and all you can smell in our office right now is Lysol and Clorox because of all of the cleaning that’s been going on.
“At the same time, we also have a job to do, and that’s very important to us,” the chief deputy explained. “We’re just using a common-sense approach right now to keep everyone safe, but at this point no services have been shut down, and of course we’re still responding to all of the calls that we are receiving.”
Ready to Respond
Marshall County covers approximately 310 square miles and is home to five cities and a small sliver of Wheeling. More than 30,000 residents live in both urban and rural areas. While Moundsville, Glen Dale, and McMechen operate police departments, Helms and his deputies are responsible for covering the rest.
“It’s a big area to take care of, but when we receive those calls, it means someone in the community needs something,” Helms said. “Sometimes, we can handle the issue over the phone, and if that’s possible, then that’s what we will do. But we will be out in our county in full force.
“I am really hoping that we do not reach the point to where our deputies have to start wearing the medical masks, but if that is what is necessary to keep everyone safe, then it’s something we’ll have to do,” he continued. “If we see a bunch of folks in Marshall County getting sick and there is a spike in the numbers, then we’ll have to protect ourselves as we serve our people.”
The nature of the emergency, Helms explained, always determines the number of deputies that respond.
“Sometimes when people call us, they are in dire situations and really need us,” he said. “That’s why we are willing to do whatever we need to do to make sure we stay out and continue working. In so many cases, we are the only ones available to offer them the help that they need.
“We also get calls from people who live outside this area because they have family in Marshall County and, for whatever reason, they are worried about them,” he explained. “We’ve not yet seen an increase in those types of calls, but if and when we do, they will be followed up on. The only thing we have seen is a little bit of increased traffic on the roads because so many people are going to the stores to get what they need while staying home like we’re supposed to right now.”
Roads Don’t Help
It is well-known throughout the Upper Ohio Valley and in the state of West Virginia that Marshall County possesses the worst secondary roads in all of the Mountain State’s 55 counties.
Alternative routes, the chief deputy reported, are necessary far too often when he, his deputies, and other first responders are traveling to an issue in the county.
“Of course, it’s not a new problem, but there are times when we have to take a different route when responding to an emergency, and that’s not fair to the people here,” Helms insisted. “There’s been a lot of attention to the roads, sure, and some work has been performed, but there are still so many roadways that have been compromised because of a lack of maintenance to them.
“As I say that, I want to point out that the people who live in this area and work for the Division of Highways are not to blame for these problems because they work very, very hard,” the chief deputy said. “It’s a state issue, and I believe everyone realizes that now.”
Ugh!
It’s a frustrating time because of the closures of schools, bars, restaurants, and casinos as well as the empty shelves at grocery stores, but Helms believes local citizens are now taking the advised precautions.
“A lot of people I’ve spoken to are amazed with all of the actions and orders because this is something none of us has ever seen before,” Helms said. “And I think people are starting to understand that we’re still only in the early stages of this situation. In the very beginning, when we first started to hear about this coronavirus, a lot of people thought it wouldn’t become an issue here, but here we are.
“One thing that’s troublesome is the issue people are experiencing with finding the products that they truly need in their homes,” he said. “One item I am very concerned about is baby formula because formula has become very difficult to find. I am very hopeful that it gets figured out soon because I have been hearing complaints about that situation.”
